Musings, dreams, thoughtcrimes.

The critic and the creator

“It is a melancholy experience for a professional mathematician to find himself writing about mathematics. The function of a mathematician is to do something, to prove new theorems, to add to mathematics, and not to talk about what he or other mathematicians have done. Statesmen despise publicists, painters despise art-critics, and physiologists, physicists, or mathematicians have usually similar feelings: there is no scorn more profound, or on the whole more justifiable, than that of the men who make for the men who explain. Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is work for second-rate minds.”

3 Responses

Yes, but he explains later. Taken out of context it sounds more scathing than it is, especially the last sentence. Nonetheless the passage illustrates Hardy’s belief in the innate worth of any kind of creative achievement (art, mathematics, writing) and his profound sadness that (at the time he was writing this) he no longer had the ability to create mathematics at the highest level, and he would never get that ability back again.
He is certainly not contemptuous of the acts of criticism or exposition – he recognizes them as fine, necessary activities – he merely asserts that the act of creating something permanent and wonderful (like a great painting) is in a certain sense superior to the act of criticizing or dissecting another’s creation. I agree with that sentiment.

Right, but it’s like, “Duh.” I mean, are there really people out there claiming that art criticism is superior to art, itself? Clearly one begets the other, and there’s no confusion which way the train goes.

You say this passage may be taken out of context but then clarify Hardy’s feelings in much the same way as that opening paragraph. When Hardy says, “Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is work for second-rate minds,” it’s more “the truth hurts” than “out of context.”

I guess what I’m saying is, it is scathing, but that’s what makes it sing. There’s no need to soften the blow, here. I’m sure Hardy was a swell guy, from all accounts I’ve read he was an attentive professor, but here, in this Apology, he means to be biting.

Let that stark, scathing pathos wash over you like the equally stark and scathing mathematics. No apologies!

But, hey, it’s a matter of degree and we’re on the same page, aren’t we? Pretty great quote no matter how you slice it. Good work.